Is this Aster Yellows or something else? - Ask Extension
This year all my coneflower and black eyed Susan's blooms are growing in deformed. These are 4-5 year old plants that looked pretty normal last year. ...
Knowledgebase
Is this Aster Yellows or something else? #872201
Asked June 08, 2024, 3:20 PM EDT
This year all my coneflower and black eyed Susan's blooms are growing in deformed. These are 4-5 year old plants that looked pretty normal last year. All of the plants in every location of my yard look like this and my neighbor’s down the street have the same observation in their yard. I’m worried that it’s Aster Yellows because I’ve never seen them like that. Or could it be something else?
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
We think that it is too early to say whether your have the disease present, and suggest that you allow more time to pass before deciding. Feel free to continue to send us photos.
We are having a difficulty with our website this morning, but this page will give you more information on the issue, including more definitive symptoms to watch for:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/aster-yellows-disease-flowers/
Christine
We are having a difficulty with our website this morning, but this page will give you more information on the issue, including more definitive symptoms to watch for:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/aster-yellows-disease-flowers/
Christine
Thanks. I am not able to open the link you sent regarding aster yellows, the site's certificate has expired and is insecure.
Here is another picture of coneflower buds that look a little different from the previous ones.
This second photo does look like potentially the beginning of Aster Yellows, but it still may be too early to tell for sure. We would suggest to keep monitoring symptoms and see if it grows out of it. If you are weary, you can remove it now. Seemingly many plants can keep growing with Aster Yellows but it will stunt growth and posses to be a vector for the mites to transfer the disease to other plants. Eventually with the distortion they will die off.
